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Scope of the program

The APVMA defines an adverse experience as an unintended or unexpected effect on animals, human beings or the environment, or a lack of efficacy associated with the use of a registered agricultural or veterinary chemical product.
Though the scope of the AERP is broad, the AERP may decide not to consider a report because it falls outside the scope of the program.
Specific adverse experience reports which are in scope of the AERP include those related to:

human health issues, where people are exposed to these products either by using them, coming in contact, consuming treated produce, or being exposed as bystanders

animal health issues, including both domestic and native birds and animals

crop and plant damage

lack of efficacy

environmental damage

residue issues

known side effects of veterinary medicines already identified on product labels.

Adverse experience reports which are not in scope of the AERP include those related to:

packaging design faults (as these do not fall within the definition of an ‘adverse experience’)

products not registered by the APVMA.

Though the AERP does not cover residue violations, packaging design faults, or products not registered, we are able to assist by directing concerns to the appropriate organisation or group.

Reporting off-label adverse experiences

The scope of the AERP does not cover reports involving the off-label use of registered products. However, the APVMA does encourage the reporting of off-label adverse experiences as these have occasionally highlighted potentially significant issues with registered products. Some examples of this are:

treatment protocols involving the administration of products meant for production animals to companion animals have resulted in illness or death of the treated animal

the use of dog products on cats can cause serious adverse effects. This action is clearly off-label and the public should be aware that certain constituents (such as high concentration permethrin) are toxic to cats

spray drift from chemical application contrary to label instructions can result in environmental damage or human exposure to harmful chemicals